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ID 5828340 - DfE - Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025

Department for the Economy - DfE

This public procurement record has 3 releases in its history.

Award

11 Sep 2025 at 15:44

UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Award

01 Aug 2025 at 14:42

UK6 - Contract Award Notice
Tender

19 May 2025 at 17:45

UK4 - Tender Notice
Summary of the contracting process

The Department for the Economy (DfE) in Northern Ireland has completed the procurement process for the "Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025," aimed at supporting a diverse group of young people through vocational education and training. The programme operates under the "lightTouch" regime with an open procurement method, covering education and training services. The awarded contract is valued gross at GBP 234 million and officially began on 15 August 2025, with provisions for potential extensions. This vital initiative, targeted at aiding youth with disabilities and other challenges, seeks to enhance social and economic inclusion, while upskilling participants for further learning or employment opportunities. The programme is primarily located in the UK region of Northern Ireland (UKN), with the contract spanning until July 2027, and the possibility of further extensions until July 2031.

The Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025 presents a valuable opportunity for businesses specialising in vocational training services, particularly those experienced in supporting young people with disabilities and complex learning needs. SMEs and large enterprises in the education and training sector have been awarded contracts, affirming that a variety of providers, from small to large entities, can effectively participate and contribute. By delivering tailored vocational education and addressing the diverse needs of this programme's participants, businesses can expand their operations, showcase their expertise in specialised training services, and strengthen their market position within the public sector.

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Notice Information

Notice Title

ID 5828340 - DfE - Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025

Notice Description

The Department for the Economy is seeking tenders for the delivery of the Skills for Life and Work Programme 2025. The programme will support a diverse cohort of young people through a relevant and empowering vocational education and training experience that equips them for progression to higher levels of learning or to employment, according to their own aspirations. The overall aim of the Programme is to ensure continuity of youth vocational education and training provision, contribute to social and economic inclusion, deliver skills learning and achievement, and act as a pathway to any next step. Many participants will enter the Programme with a disability or disabilities, and/or with a complex range of issues and barriers to learning and achievement, including mental wellbeing challenges and mental health difficulties. Additional disability support will be the responsibility of the training provider to deliver or source. Payment for this support will be covered in the funding table and contractual measures will be in place to ensure that this additional funding is ring-fenced and directed towards those young people with disabilities. Suppliers should refer to the Specification Schedule for full detail on the deliverables of this contract.

Lot Information

Lot 1

Renewal: The Award of Contract is anticipated to be August 2025 with the Initial Contract Period of up to two years commencing in September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter (where 'up to two years' pertains to the period of recruitment of participants to the programme). There will be a run-off period following the Initial Contract Period during which all Contract provisions, terms and conditions will continue to apply. This is to accommodate the participant training entitlements set out in the Operational Requirements. Service delivery cannot commence until the first Monday of the September 2025, or as soon as possible thereafter following Contract commencement and the programme will close to new participant entrants after July 2027. There will be an option to extend the Initial Contract Period for a further four one-year periods , and if the Contract is extended the Programme will remain open to new participant entrants during the extension period. Participants recruited during the Initial Contract Period or the extension period will have a training entitlement as set out in the Operational Requirements.

Notice Details

Publication & Lifecycle

Open Contracting ID
ocds-h6vhtk-0517ac
Publication Source
Find A Tender Service
Latest Notice
https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/055902-2025
Current Stage
Award
All Stages
Tender, Award

Procurement Classification

Notice Type
UK7 - Contract Details Notice
Procurement Type
Standard
Procurement Category
Services
Procurement Method
Open
Procurement Method Details
Open procedure
Tender Suitability
Not specified
Awardee Scale
Large, SME

Common Procurement Vocabulary (CPV)

CPV Divisions

80 - Education and training services

CPV Codes

80000000 - Education and training services

80210000 - Technical and vocational secondary education services

80310000 - Youth education services

80500000 - Training services

80521000 - Training programme services

80530000 - Vocational training services

80531000 - Industrial and technical training services

80531100 - Industrial training services

80531200 - Technical training services

80570000 - Personal development training services

Notice Value(s)

Tender Value
£195,000,000 £100M-£1B
Lots Value
£195,000,000 £100M-£1B
Awards Value
£195,000,000 £100M-£1B
Contracts Value
£195,000,000 £100M-£1B

Notice Dates

Publication Date
11 Sep 202511 months ago
Submission Deadline
25 Jun 2025Expired
Future Notice Date
Not specified
Award Date
1 Aug 20251 years ago
Contract Period
15 Aug 2025 - 31 Jul 2027 1-2 years
Recurrence
Not specified

Notice Status

Tender Status
Complete
Lots Status
Complete
Awards Status
Active
Contracts Status
Active

Buyer & Supplier

Contracting Authority (Buyer)

Main Buyer
Department for the Economy - DfE
Additional Buyers

Department for the Economy

Contact Name
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Email
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →
Contact Phone
Available with D3 Tenders Premium →

Buyer Location

Locality
BELFAST
Postcode
BT2 8FD
Postcode Area
Northern Ireland
Country
Northern Ireland
Major Region (ITL 1)
TLN Northern Ireland
Basic Region (ITL 2)
TLN0 Northern Ireland
Small Region (ITL 3)
TLN06 Belfast
Delivery Location
TLN Northern Ireland
Local Authority
Belfast
Electoral Ward
Central
Westminster Constituency
Belfast South and Mid Down

Supplier Information

Number of Suppliers
20
Supplier Names

21TRAINING LIMITED

ASHTON COMMUNITY TRUST

BRYSON ENERGY

CLANRYE GROUP LIMITED

CRAFT TRAINING LTD

Coalisland Training Services Ltd

D.F.P.F. LIMITED

DERRY YOUTH AND COMMUNITY WORKSHOP LIMITED

DISABILITY ACTION (NI)

GAELCHURSAI LIMITED

GET SKILLS EMPLOYMENT & TRAINING LTD

IMPACT TRAINING (N.I) LIMITED

LIMESTONE YOUTH TRAINING PROJECT LIMITED

RUTLEDGE TRAINING LIMITED

SPRINGVALE TRAINING LIMITED

Skilled NI

Springboard Opportunities Ltd

THE NOW PROJECT LIMITED

ULSTER SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT LIMITED

WORKFORCE TRAINING SERVICES LIMITED

Further Information

Notice Documents

Notice URLs

Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS)

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The Open Contracting Data Standard (OCDS) is a framework designed to increase transparency and access to public procurement data in the public sector. It is widely used by governments and organisations worldwide to report on procurement processes and contracts.

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